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4 for Texas

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Wikipedia article




'4 for Texas' is a 1963 American comedy Western film starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg, and Ursula Andress, and featuring Charles Bronson and Mike Mazurki, with a cameo appearance by Arthur Godfrey and the Three Stooges (Larry Fine, Moe Howard, and Curly Joe DeRita). The film was written by Teddi Sherman and Robert Aldrich, who also directed.

Plot



In 1870, a shipment of $100,000 being transported by stagecoach to Galveston, Texas, is the object of a tug-of-war in the desert between Zack Thomas and Joe Jarrett, who first must stave off an outlaw band led by Matson.

Later, in Galveston, Thomas and Jarrett become rivals in a bid to open a waterfront casino. Each has a new romantic attachment, as well, with the beauties Elya and Maxine, respectively. They eventually must join forces to hold off the villainous Matson and a corrupt banker, Burden, to keep their new gambling boat afloat.

Cast



* Frank Sinatra as Zack Thomas

* Dean Martin as Joe Jarrett

* Anita Ekberg as Elya Carlson

* Ursula Andress as Maxine Richter

* Charles Bronson as Matson

* Victor Buono as Harvey Burden (President, Galveston Savings & Trust)

* Edric Connor as Prince George (carriage driver)

* Nick Dennis as Angel

* Richard Jaeckel as Pete Mancini

* Mike Mazurki as Chad (Zack's bodyguard)

* Wesley Addy as Winthrop Trowbridge

* Marjorie Bennett as Miss Emmaline

* Virginia Christine as Elya Carlson's maid

* Ellen Corby as Widow

* Jack Elam as Dobie

* Joe DeRita as Painting Deliveryman (billed as the Three Stooges)

* Larry Fine as Painting Deliveryman (billed as the Three Stooges)

* Moe Howard as Painting Deliveryman (billed as the Three Stooges)

* Jack Lambert as Monk

* Barbara Payton as Town Citizen (uncredited)

Production



Development and writing

Aldrich announced the film in November 1960 as 'Two for Texas', from a script by Teddi Sherman. The proposed stars were Lisa Kirk, Martine Carol and Aldo Ray.Scott, J. L. (1960, Nov 01). Texas yarns follow in wake of 'alamo'. Los Angeles Times

Aldrich later said he wrote the first draft of the script but "you could change that over and over and it was still a disaster."mr. film noir stays at the table

Silver, Alain. Film Comment; New York Vol. 8, Iss. 1, (Spring 1972): 14-23.
Eventually Aldrich and Sherman shared the writing credit, with some sources stating that W. R. Burnett contributed uncredited work to the screenplay.

In January 1963, Dean Martin signed to make the film. At that stage his female co-stars would be Anita Ekberg and (it was hoped) Gina Lollobrigida.Lemmon May Be Candidate for an Oscar

Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 31 Jan 1963: c9.
Warners, who had just made 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?' with Aldrich, agreed to finance.Showmen Poll Led Again by Doris Day: Aldrich Picks Lollo, Ekberg; Hawks Plumps for Originals

Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 3 Jan 1963: C7.


In March, Frank Sinatra agreed to co-star. This meant the film would be a co-production between Warners, Aldrich's company, the Associates and Aldrich, Martin's company, Claude Productions, and Sinatra's, Essex Productions.High-Budget Western Is Set

Special to The New York Times.. New York Times 22 Mar 1963: 7.


At one stage the role of Elya was originally intended for Sophia Loren, who had already worked with Sinatra in 'The Pride and the Passion'. Although she was offered $1,000,000 for four weeks of work, Loren turned the part down.Kaplan, James. 2015. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1FSWBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT597&dq= 'Sinatra: The Chairman']. New York: Doubleday. p. 597. .

Lollobrigida decided not to do the film. In May, Ursula Andress joined the cast and the film was retitled 'Four for Texas'.FIMLAND EVENTS: Chakiris Will Star in Film in Rome

Los Angeles Times 14 May 1963: D8.


Filming

Filming started in May 1963.

'4 for Texas' was filmed in 1.85:1 aspect ratio and processed by Technicolor. Its promotional trailer features Ursula Andress in specially shot footage addressing the audience.

During production, the relationship between star Sinatra and director Aldrich became strained. Aldrich felt the film was not a success, and cited problems with his own script, as well as Sinatra's lack of enthusiasm for the projectAldrich calculated that Sinatra worked a total of only 80 hours during 37 days of filming.

At one stage, Bette Davis was going to make a cameo.Career Zooming for Betty Hutton: Opening in Local 'Annie' Then Goes to Broadway

Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 5 June 1963: D16.
A role had also apparently been written for Peter Lawford, but after Sinatra expelled Lawford from the Rat Pack, Lawford's role was written out.

Release



Theatrical

The film had its U.S. premiere on December 18, 1963. Forty-three years after its original premiere, '4 for Texas' was presented at the Turin Film Festival on November 12, 2006.

Home media

Its first DVD release arrived on November 20, 2001, and the second release (as part of The Rat Pack collection of 'Ocean's 11' and 'Robin and the 7 Hoods') was on June 13, 2006.

Reception



Accolades

It was nominated for the Golden Laurel as "Top Action Drama", ultimately coming in fourth.

See also



* List of American films of 1963

References




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